Man Catches ‘The Black Death’ After Saving Mouse from Cat

As definitive proof that no good deed goes unpunished, an unidentified Oregon man in his 50s has contracted the plague after rescuing a mouse from the jaws of a cat. Gah! Next time, just let nature take its course, pal.

The man, who was bitten on the hand on June 2nd as he pulled the mouse from the mouth of a stray cat, is currently listed in critical condition and being treated with antibiotics at St. Charles Medical Center-Bend.

The bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, killed at least one-third of Europe’s population in the 14th Century. And although 1,000-3,000 cases are still reported worldwide each year, the plague is incredibly rare in the state of Oregon. In fact, only five people have contracted the disease there since 1995.

As for preventing the disease, Oregon’s public health veterinarian Emilio De Bess said: “Taking a mouse out of a cat’s mouth is probably not a good idea.” We’ll try to remember that, thanks.